Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, after that 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome Bonus
Up to $300 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
Chase offers a wide selection of credit cards for nearly anyone in the market. Among its popular mid-tier offerings are the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card*, two cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Subtle variations in benefits and clear differences in annual fees and rewards structures can make choosing between them challenging for those seeking the right card for earning travel rewards on everyday purchases.
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Overview
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* | |
|---|---|---|
|
Annual Fee
|
$0
|
$95
|
|
Rewards
|
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases, plus an additional 1.5% cash back on the first $20,000 in purchases the first year
|
5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases
|
|
Welcome Bonus
|
an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, worth up to $300 cash back
|
60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
|
|
APR
|
0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer applies
|
21.49%-28.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
|
|
Foreign Transaction Fee
|
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
|
$0
|
|
Chase Ultimate Rewards Redemption Values
|
Redeem at 1 cent per point for cash back or travel through Chase Travel
|
Redeem at 1 cent per point for cash back or book travel with Chase Travel and receive 25% more value
|
|
1:1 Point Transfer
|
No, unless paired with a premium Ultimate Rewards-earning card
|
Yes
|
|
Purchase and Travel Protections
|
Purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary auto rental collision damage waiver
|
Purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, trip delay insurance
|
|
Statement Credits
|
None
|
Up to $50 each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel
|
Welcome Bonus
The Chase Freedom Unlimited allows cardholders to earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, worth up to $300 cash back.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Though it may take some effort to meet the high spending requirement in the first three months, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a better bonus. It’s particularly valuable for travelers looking to book flights or hotel stays through Chase Travel, or transfer points to travel partners such as United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
A good overall spending card that allows you to hold a balance on new purchases with a low introductory APR, pay no annual fee, and still earn at least 1.5% cashback on all purchases
- Generous welcome offer for a no annual fee card
- Unlimited 1.5% minimum earn rate for cash-back rewards
- No minimum redemption amount
- Foreign transaction fee
- Ongoing balance transfer fee is high
- Requires a companion card to transfer points to travel partners
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Annual Fee
The Chase Freedom Unlimited doesn’t charge an annual fee, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred charges a $95 annual fee. Whether paying an annual fee is worthwhile depends on the value you find in the card’s rewards and benefits.
When considering a card with an annual fee, carefully evaluate whether it provides enough value over the best no annual fee alternative to make it worth the fee each year.
For example, consumers who like to redeem rewards for cash back and rarely travel probably won’t find the Sapphire Preferred’s annual fee worth it. But if you travel even a few times throughout the year, the Sapphire’s travel protections—such as baggage delay insurance and primary rental car insurance—could mean it’s worth more to you than the $95 cost to carry it.
Earning Rewards
The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases, plus an additional 1.5% cash back on the first $20,000 in purchases the first year.
Meanwhile, Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
The Sapphire Preferred also provides an annual points award equal to 10% of your purchases in an account anniversary year. For example, $25,000 in purchases means 2,500 bonus points.
For those with spending patterns and budgets that fit the reward structure of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the rewards may be worth considering against the annual fee. However, for those whose spending varies more significantly, the Chase Freedom Unlimited’s higher base earning rate on purchases not in a bonus category may be preferable.
Despite marketing for the Chase Freedom Unlimited advertising cash back, the card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This means a cardholder with both cards could earn points with the Chase Freedom Unlimited, then redeem them using the Chase Sapphire Preferred for even more value for travel booked via the Chase Travel portal or transfer them 1:1 to partners.
Introductory APRs
The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers cardholders the following introductory APR periods: 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer applies.
However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer an introductory APR. Its APR details are as follows: 21.49%-28.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Our lists of the best balance transfer cards and the best 0% introductory APR cards may help you compare the Chase Freedom Unlimited’s introductory APR to other intro APR options.
Travel Benefits
Because Chase issues the Freedom Unlimited and the Sapphire Preferred, some benefits are similar. For example, both cards offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver. But it’s worth noting for the latter benefit, the coverage the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers is secondary (meaning it kicks in only after your personal insurance), while the coverage provided by the Chase Sapphire Preferred is primary.
Despite the similarities, the Sapphire Preferred comes with a more extensive array of travel benefits. Consider that this card also offers baggage delay insurance and trip delay coverage—protections that compete with those of the best travel reward cards.
And, though both cards allow users to redeem rewards through the Chase Travel portal, only the Sapphire Preferred provides 25% more value per point for travel bookings made that way. Finally, if you’re paying for your travel arrangements with your own money rather than redeeming points, you’ll likely appreciate that the Sapphire Preferred offers an annual credit of up to $50 for hotel stays purchased through the Chase Travel portal.
Redemption Options
Rewards earned with the Chase Freedom Unlimited can be redeemed for cash back with no minimum redemption amount, for purchases made on Amazon, gift cards and travel. Rewards earned using the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be redeemed in the same ways, but points redeemed for travel through the Chase portal are worth 25% more.
Transfer Partners
Chase Ultimate Rewards accrued with the Freedom Unlimited cannot be transferred to airline and hotel partners without a premium Ultimate Rewards-affiliated credit card with a points transfer feature—such as the Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve®* or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be transferred to more than a dozen travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. Partners include United Airlines, Hyatt and Marriott.
Other Perks and Benefits
Among the benefits offered by both the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Sapphire Preferred are purchase protection and extended warranty protection. Both cards also come with partner benefits, including benefits with DoorDash, Instacart and Lyft, though to varying degrees.
For example, the Sapphire Preferred offers complimentary DashPass membership—DoorDash’s premium subscription service—for a minimum of one year. The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers three months of complimentary access and a 50% discount on the next nine months.
Fees and APR
The low end of the Chase Freedom Unlimited’s possible range for its regular APR is lower than that of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, if only marginally.
The Sapphire Preferred doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, but the Freedom Unlimited does.
Chase Freedom Unlimited Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable
- Purchase intro APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Balance transfer intro APR: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Chase Sapphire Preferred Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Chase Freedom Unlimited Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Chase Sapphire Preferred Fees
- Annual fee: $95
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: $0
Consider Neither the Chase Freedom Unlimited Nor the Chase Sapphire Preferred For
Low Regular APR
We never recommend carrying a balance on a credit card, but if you have to, we suggest steering clear of the Freedom Unlimited and Sapphire Preferred. With high regular APRs, either card will rack up interest charges no one wants to pay. Instead, consider a card that offers a low interest rate.
However, if you’re in the Freedom Unlimited’s 0% intro APR period, it can be a smart choice when you need to roll over a balance. Just be sure you can pay off your debt in full before the intro period ends, or you’ll start incurring interest charges at the regular APR.
Unique Reward Categories
Restaurants, travel and all-around rewards are strong with both cards, but if you’re looking to earn rewards on other spending categories that may feature heavily in your budget, neither of these cards is a great option. For example, if filling up your gas tank is one of your big monthly expenses, consider one of our picks for the best gas rewards credit cards instead.
Bottom Line
There are obvious differences between the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card*. The Freedom Unlimited doesn’t charge an annual fee like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and it has an introductory APR period with a better base rewards rate for purchases outside of bonus categories.
However, the Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees, rewards a wider array of spending categories, offers more value when using points to book travel through Chase’s portal and comes with the ability to transfer rewards to many popular airline and hotel partners. The Sapphire Preferred also has more extensive travel benefits than the Freedom Unlimited.
Ultimately, each person will have to decide whether the Sapphire Preferred’s annual fee is justified, or if the no annual fee Freedom Unlimited is the better choice. However, for those who travel, the Sapphire Preferred’s redemption options and travel protections mean this card can offer much more value.
Finally, it may be worthwhile to have both cards. By pairing the two, cardholders can take advantage of the Sapphire Preferred’s better redemptions, while using the Freedom Unlimited to get 1.5% back on purchases that don’t fall into either card’s bonus categories. But if applying for both cards, beware of the Chase 5/24 rule—this unwritten rule means you’ll be rejected for a new Chase card if you’ve opened five or more cards from any issuer within the past 24 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited worth it?
Whether any credit card is worth applying for depends on your financial needs and goals. The Freedom Unlimited’s solid base earning rate and boosted rewards on dining, drugstore purchases and travel booked through Chase Travel—as well as a strong array of travel and purchase protections—make it a contender if you want a no annual fee card.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it?
Any credit card’s worth comes down to whether the cardholder gains sufficient value from the card. If you’ll appreciate the perks and benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, it may be worth applying for, but that’s a decision only you can make. The card’s excellent rewards and exceptional lineup of travel protections, for a reasonable $95 annual fee, help make it our choice for beginner travelers in our list of the best travel cards.
What credit score is needed for the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
No credit score guarantees approval for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, since creditworthiness is not decided entirely on credit score. We estimate the card requires a credit rating of good or better, typically meaning a score of 670 or higher on the FICO scale—but if you’re concerned your credit isn’t adequate, you can work to improve your score before applying.
What credit score is needed for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Creditworthiness is not decided entirely by your credit score, so no score will be guaranteed to secure approval for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. With this being a premium card, we’d expect most applicants to need a good or better credit rating—670 or higher on the FICO scale—but your income and other financial and credit factors will also influence the issuer’s decision. If you’re concerned about your score, you can take steps to increase your chances of approval.
Is it hard to get the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
Applying for any credit card is typically a straightforward process, but building the credit necessary to receive approval can be difficult. We estimate the Chase Freedom Unlimited® will likely require a good or better credit rating—a minimum score of about 670 on the FICO scale—but credit score isn’t the only factor, and no score will guarantee approval. Additional factors can include income and how many new credit accounts you’ve opened recently.
Is it hard to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred’s application process remains relatively comparable to most other cards. For those prepared with the necessary financial and personal information, it will be fairly quick. However, approval will likely require a good or better credit rating. Demonstrating sufficient income and the ability to repay any charges made on the card can also help set your application up for success.
How do rewards work with the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases, plus an additional 1.5% cash back on the first $20,000 in purchases the first year. Rewards may be redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel portal, but not at an increased value like they can with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve cards.
How do rewards work with the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. Chase Ultimate Rewards may be redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel portal for 25% more value. You can also transfer your rewards at a 1:1 rate to more than a dozen popular travel partners.
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